Image forming system that manages consumption information of valid consumable item among plurality of consumable items

Abstract

An image forming system includes an image forming apparatus and an information processing apparatus. In the image forming apparatus, a first controller designates consumable items that can supply a consumable material, as valid consumable items, generates consumable item setting information indicating the valid consumable items, causes a first communication device to transmit the consumable item setting information to the information processing apparatus, generates consumption information of the valid consumable items, when the first communication device receives a request for the consumption information, and causes the first communication device to transmit the consumption information to the information processing apparatus. In the information processing apparatus, a second controller causes a second communication device to transmit the request for the consumption information to the image forming apparatus, and stores the consumption information of each of the valid consumable items in a storage device, when the second communication device receives the consumption information.

What is claimed is; 
     
         1 . An image forming system comprising:
 an image forming apparatus; and   an information processing apparatus, wherein   the image forming apparatus including:
 an image forming device that forms an image on a recording sheet; 
 a plurality of consumable items that each supply a consumable material to be used for forming the image; 
 a first communication device that performs data communication with the information processing apparatus; and 
 a first controller including a processor, and configured to, when the processor executes a control program;
 designate one or more consumable items that can supply a consumable material, as valid consumable item, among the plurality of consumable items; 
 generate consumable item setting information indicating the valid consumable items; 
 cause the first communication device to transmit the consumable item setting information to the information processing apparatus; 
 generate the consumption information of the valid consumable items, when the first communication device receives a request for transmission of the consumption information of the valid consumable items; and 
 cause the first communication device to transmit the consumption information to the information processing apparatus, and 
 
   the information processing apparatus including:
 a second communication device that performs data communication with the image forming apparatus; 
 a storage device; and 
 a second controller including a processor, and configured to, when the processor executes a control program;
 identify the valid consumable items indicated by the consumable item setting information, when the second communication device receives the consumable item setting information; 
 cause the second communication device to transmit the request for transmission of the consumption information of the valid consumable items, with respect to each of the valid consumable items, to the image forming apparatus; and 
 store the consumption information of each of the valid consumable items in the storage device, when the second communication device receives the consumption information. 
 
   
     
     
         2 . The image forming system according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the information processing apparatus further includes a first display device, and   the second controller of the information processing apparatus displays, upon deciding, when the second communication device receives the consumption information, that a warning should be displayed on a basis of the consumption information, the warning about the valid consumable item based on the consumption information, on the first display device.   
     
     
         3 . The image forming system according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the image forming device forms the image on the recording sheet, through an electrophotography process using toner which is the consumable material, and   each of the plurality of consumable items is a toner container for accommodating the toner therein, removably mounted in the image forming apparatus.   
     
     
         4 . The image forming system according to  claim 3 ,
 wherein the plurality of toner containers accommodates therein the toner of a same color, and   the first controller designates at least one toner container that can supply the toner of the same color, as the valid toner container, among the plurality of toner containers, and generates the consumable item setting information of the at least one valid toner container.   
     
     
         5 . The image forming system according to  claim 4 ,
 wherein the information processing apparatus further includes a first display device, and   the second controller of the information processing apparatus displays, upon deciding, when the second communication device acquires the consumption information of the at least one valid toner container, that a warning should be displayed on a basis of the consumption information, the warning about the at least one valid toner container based on the consumption information, on the first display device.   
     
     
         6 . The image forming system according to  claim 4 ,
 wherein the image forming apparatus further includes a second display device, and   the first controller of the image forming apparatus generates the consumption information of the at least one valid toner container, and displays, upon deciding that a warning should be displayed on a basis of the consumption information, the warning about the at least one valid toner container based on the consumption information, on the second display device.   
     
     
         7 . The image forming system according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the image forming device forms the image on the recording sheet, through an ink jet process using ink which is the consumable material, and   each of the plurality of consumable items is an ink cartridge for accommodating the ink therein, removably mounted in the image forming apparatus.   
     
     
         8 . The image forming system according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the consumption information indicates a remaining amount of the consumable material accommodated in the consumable item, an empty state of the consumable item, whether the consumable item is mounted or not, or whether the consumable item is a legitimate product or an illegitimate product.   
     
     
         9 . The image forming system according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the image forming apparatus further includes a non-volatile memory for storing therein the consumable item setting information.   
     
     
         10 . The image forming system according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the first controller keeps from allowing the first communication device to transmit the consumable item setting information of the consumable item not designated as the valid consumable item, to the information processing apparatus.